TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It’s a new season for the 16th-ranked Florida State indoor volleyball team as it is set to being postseason play on Thursday at 5 p.m. The Seminoles (24-7, 17-3) will open the NCAA Tournament against Georgia Southern (28-5, 13-3) at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, which is located on the campus of the University of Florida.

This trip to the NCAA Tournament is the 16th overall for Florida State’s program and is also the fifth-straight for head coach Chris Poole and the Seminoles, which set a new school record.

The Eagles were selected to the field of 64 teams by way of winning the Southern Conference Championship.

“We know that Georgia Southern had a great year in their conference,” Poole said. “They’ve got a new coach, they’re very inspired and we know we’re going to have to play well. Anyone you meet in the Tournament has had a lot of success or they wouldn’t be there. In those situations, you have to step up and you can’t take anyone for granted.”

The Seminoles traveled to Gainesville, Fla. back in 2010 for the same matchup, coming away with a 3-1 win before dropping their second round match to the top-seeded Gators in five sets. This trip will mark the fifth time FSU has opened the postseason in Gainesville.

If the Seminoles should advance into the second round they will play the winner of Jacksonville and sixth-seeded Florida on Friday at 7 p.m.

“When you’re playing on someone else’s court it’s important to get in some sort of rhythm” Poole said. “We have to get used to the atmosphere. We want to go out and play well. We’re not taking anything for granted and we’re certainly respecting every opponent and we’re going to go out and play to the best of our abilities.”

The winner of Friday’s match will advance to the Champaign Regional for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds next weekend starting on Dec. 14-15, before the national semifinal and championship matches, which scheduled for Dec. 19 and Dec. 21 in Seattle, Wash.

Follow Florida State indoor volleyball on Seminoles.com as well as on the team’s official Twitter (@FSU_Volleyball) and Facebook pages (Facebook.com/FSUVolleyball).